Here are the top sports stories and upcoming coverage plans for Reuters text service as of 2 p.m. GMT/9 a.m. ET. For a full schedule of news and events, go to our editorial calendar on Reuters Connect.
TOP STORIES
ALPINE-SKIING/MEN
Zabystran stuns Odermatt to claim Czech men's maiden World Cup win
PARIS, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Jan Zabystran stunned pre-race favourite Marco Odermatt in the Val Gardena super-G to become the first male skier representing the Czech Republic to win an Alpine skiing World Cup race on Friday.
SOCCER-AUSTRALIA/
Football Australia bans four players for spot-fixing offences
Four players have been banned from all football-related activity for several years, Football Australia said on Friday, following their involvement in a betting scandal which included deliberately receiving yellow cards in A-League matches.
SAILING-RORC/TRANSATLANTIC
MOD70 titans gear up for Atlantic showdown as Argo and Zoulou renew duel
LANZAROTE, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Two of sailing's most fearsome speed machines are preparing for another high-stakes duel across the Atlantic, with the MOD70 trimarans Argo and Zoulou set to renew their rivalry in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race starting on January 11 in Lanzarote.
UPCOMING
BOXING
BOXING-HEAVYWEIGHT-PAUL-JOSHUA/ (PIX) $(TV)$
Jake Paul faces heavyweight reality test against Anthony Joshua in Miami
Jake Paul faces former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in Miami in a bout that pits celebrity momentum against proven elite pedigree. Paul continues his push toward boxing credibility, while Joshua brings experience, power and a clear intent to reassert himself at the top level.
19 Dec 16:45 ET / 21:45 GMT
CRICKET
CRICKET-ASHES/ (PIX)
The Ashes - Australia v England, third test
Day four of the third Ashes test between Australia and England at the Adelaide Oval.
20 Dec 18:30 ET / 23:30 GMT
CRICKET-TEST-NZL-WIN/
Test - New Zealand v West Indies
New Zealand play West Indies in the third test at Bay Oval.
21 Dec 06:00 ET / 11:00 GMT
NATIONAL BASKETBALL ASSOCIATION
BASKETBALL-NBA-BOS-MIA/ (PIX)
NBA - Boston Celtics v Miami Heat
2025-26 NBA Season (Regular Season) - TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
20 Dec 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT
BASKETBALL-NBA-NYK-PHI/ (PIX)
NBA - New York Knicks v Philadelphia 76ers
2025-26 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Madison Square Garden, New York, New York
20 Dec 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT
BASKETBALL-NBA-ATL-SAS/ (PIX)
NBA - Atlanta Hawks v San Antonio Spurs
2025-26 NBA Season (Regular Season) - State Farm Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
20 Dec 19:30 ET / 00:30 GMT
BASKETBALL-NBA-CLE-CHI/ (PIX)
NBA - Cleveland Cavaliers v Chicago Bulls
2025-26 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Rocket Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
20 Dec 19:30 ET / 00:30 GMT
BASKETBALL-NBA-MIN-OKC/ (PIX)
NBA - Minnesota Timberwolves v Oklahoma City Thunder
2025-26 NBA Season (Regular Season) - Target Center, Minneapolis, Minnesota
20 Dec 21:30 ET / 02:30 GMT
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE
ICEHOCKEY-NHL-FLA-CAR/ (PIX)
NHL - Florida Panthers v Carolina Hurricanes
2025-26 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Amerant Bank Arena, Sunrise, Florida
20 Dec 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT
ICEHOCKEY-NHL-NYI-VAN/ (PIX)
NHL - New York Islanders v Vancouver Canucks
2025-26 NHL Season (Regular Season) - UBS Arena, Elmont, New York
20 Dec 19:00 ET / 00:00 GMT
ICEHOCKEY-NHL-COL-WPG/ (PIX)
NHL - Colorado Avalanche v Winnipeg Jets
2025-26 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Ball Arena, Denver, Colorado
20 Dec 21:00 ET / 02:00 GMT
ICEHOCKEY-NHL-UTA-NJD/ (PIX)
NHL - Utah Mammoth v New Jersey Devils
2025-26 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah
20 Dec 21:00 ET / 02:00 GMT
ICEHOCKEY-NHL-ANA-DAL/ (PIX)
NHL - Anaheim Ducks v Dallas Stars
2025-26 NHL Season (Regular Season) - Honda Center, Anaheim, California
20 Dec 22:00 ET / 03:00 GMT
BADMINTON
BADMINTON-FINALS/ (TV)
BWF World Tour Finals
The semi-finals of the BWF World Tour Finals in Hangzhou.
20 Dec 20:30 ET / 01:30 GMT
LUGE
OLYMPICS-2026-LUGE/
Olympics-Russians compete as neutrals at luge World Cup event
Several Russian athletes will race in a luge World Cup race for the first time since 2022 at Lake Placid, New York over the weekend.
20 Dec
SOCCER
SOCCER-ENGLAND-NEW-CHE/ (PIX)
England - English Premier League - Newcastle United v Chelsea
Newcastle United play Chelsea in the English Premier League at St. James' Park in Newcastle upon Tyne
20 Dec 07:30 ET / 12:30 GMT
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